World War IIMS Borgestad
MS Borgestad was on a journey from Freetown to UK loaded with cotton. The ship was the leader of the convoy of 19 ships and on the 12th of February 1941, the convoy was attacked by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper, in the position 3712N, 2120W. On board Borgestad, the crew immediately understood the situation and used their only cannon and steered towards Admiral Hipper. The heavy cruiser used all its firepower it had against the merchant ship and due to Borgestad’s heroic efforts, it had to give up attacking the rest of the convoy. Borgestad’s manoeuvring resulted in the safety and escape of the 12 remaining ships in the convoy. The norwegian ship were in the end, extensively shelled and sunk right away. All on board, 30 men and one woman, perished in the sinking. According to the Brasseys Naval Journal on 1945, the following statements were writing about the ship: “The story about the Norwegian cargo ship, Borgestad, is an epic that can be compared to one about Rawalpindi or Jervis Bay. Even when it took place three years ago.”
About MS Borgestad
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Nationality
Norway
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Built
1925
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Wrecked
12.02.1941
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Carrier
Gunnar Knudsen, Porsgrunn
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Tonnage
6.750 dvt
